When it comes to Test cricket, Ajinkya Rahane has been one of the most common faces in the Indian cricket team’s Playing XI for at least the last five years. Over time, he rose through the ranks, became the vice-captain of the squad and even led the team to the heroic 2020-21 Test series victory in Australia.

Having said that, Rahane’s personal contribution to the team in terms of scoring runs with the bat has been under the scanner for a really long time and the disappointing final Test of the India-South Africa series might be the last nail in the coffin for the cricketer’s red-ball career at the highest level.

Drop Rahane in next series pls ffs

— Positive Entropy (@EntropyPositive) January 11, 2022

While getting into Team India for any format of the game is an extremely competitive job in itself, there is no denying the fact that Rahane has gotten his fair share of tries to prove himself and solidify his place in the roster but not only has he failed to score big, the fact that he has gotten dismissed on single-digit scores so often has also worked negatively in his case.

Thus, when the former Team Indian cricketer and one of the most controversial commentators in the Indian cricket fraternity, Sanjay Manjrekar took a massive dig at the 33-year old cricketer, there was little to no protest against his assessment:

"I would not give Ajinkya Rahane another Innings. Cheteshwar Pujara has a stronger case in my book." - Sanjay Manjrekar (On ESPNcricinfo)

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) January 14, 2022

Manjrekar feels that Rahane hasn’t done a lot in the last three to four years that could be considered good enough to ensure his spot in the Playing XI anymore. He also suggests the batter take a step back, play some matches of the Ranji trophy to get back his rhythm and form.

“It’s (his dismissal) a combination of a good delivery and Ajinkya Rahane’s form. He needs to go back and play first-class cricket and hopefully get his mojo back. I would not give Rahane another innings. Pujara has a stronger case in my book. Nothing about Rahane in the last 3-4 years gives me hope that he is coming back into form. There have been glimmers when he got a hundred in Melbourne. But, apart from that, nothing much," Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

But exactly how bad has Rahane been in Test cricket in terms of numbers? Well, ever since the beginning of 2020, he has averaged below 25 for five bilateral Test series including the one currently going on in South Africa and the only century he struck was back in Melbourne in 2020.

Maybe that is the reason why Indian cricket fans, who are normally at Manjrekar’s throat for his unpopular opinions, were finally in agreement with his analysis and nodded to the idea of scratching off Rahane’s name from the list and give somebody like Shreyas Iyer a shot at proving his worth in the longest format of the game.

Yes players like Hanuma Vihari, Shreyash Iyer are waiting for chance. They should play.

— Abhijeet bhuyan (@Abhijeetbhuya13) January 14, 2022

Rahane's Time has gone...I'm sure Team Management Will not give him Any more oppurtunity...One 50s 100s Does not matter It's al about consistency...

— Genius Gaming.. (@imgeniusomi) January 14, 2022

Even the Mumbai Lobby has spoken. Please drop him ffs @chetans1987 @imVkohli

— Slayyer (@dominusToBe) January 14, 2022

Agree..pujara has played important role in all most all wins in last 2 years..rahane should have been dropped 2 years back itself.. https://t.co/P3dtWvQROV

— Rajeev Dash (@rajeevdash) January 14, 2022

W for Sanju Manju https://t.co/tNxvGfTQYB

— gandhi vs mandela 1-1 (@agentscarlet2) January 14, 2022

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